Perhaps if 2020 brought us anything, it was the ever growing cacophony of voices and thoughts, growing louder until all sense of meaning was lost. Kevin Lankes' essay, "The Era of Meaningless Noises," explores this idea, and will be available to read January 2021 in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Kevin’s pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
New York is trending upward at the moment, as rules are relaxed and quarantine fatigue has taken over. Numbers are rising, and I fear that many people are no longer paying attention.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
Among the Missing by Dan Chaon, The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shookefeh Azar, The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, and The Known World by Edward P. Jones.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
“The Halloween Baking Championship” on Food Network.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
It's honestly made me more motivated. I'm writing and submitting a ton. I have a new novel in progress, and the short story ideas just keep coming.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on? If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
Yes. There are two novels that I've had in the works for a while: one is a story about a post-apocalyptic future where the world is covered entirely in ash, and the other is about a space mission that aims to study reproduction in zero gravity.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
Sitting down to do the work is not optional. No one is going to do it if I don't.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
I have a writing group from grad school and we're all very close. We share tips and progress reports and anything helpful we come across.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
Somewhere in between. I plan major plot points and try to connect them to each other.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I currently write anywhere I can focus.
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
I'm currently attempting to buy an apartment. It's looking like it might work out.
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
There's no shortcut. If you can sit down and do the work, do that. If you can't, then find the time to do it anyway.
ABOUT kevin lankes
Kevin Lankes holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Here Comes Everyone, Pigeon Pages, Owl Hollow Press, The Huffington Post, The Riverdale Press, and countless blogs, webpages, and other media. His short story “She Turns the Final Page” was nominated for Best Small Fictions 2019. In his lifetime, he has survived cancer, toured the U.S. in a minivan, and played lead trumpet in a professional polka band.
To learn more, follow Kevin and his writing journey at his website and on Twitter.
Thanks for chatting, Kevin!
